Automatic power-transmission drive gear



Jam 22, 1 92 4 AUTOMATIC POWER TRANSMISSION DRIVE GEAR Filed April 8,

m u w m 8 Patented Jan. 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES CHARLES P. BREESE, F DAYTON, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC POWER-TRANSMISSION DRIVE GEAR.

Application filed Apr-118,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P.-Bnnnsr., a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticPower-Transmission Drive Gears, of which the following is aspecification.

This invent-ion relates to automatic power transmission drive gear, themain object of the invention being to provide for alarge gear ratio whenthe power is applied to one end of the gearing, and a straight or directdrive when power is applied to the other end of the gearing. When thestraight drive is in operation the gears producing the differentialratio are automatically drawn out of operation and furthermore all ofsaid gearsremain idle until the high ratio gear is desired.

While the invention is particularly de-' signed for starting an internalcombustion engine, and especially an aeronautical engine, it will becomeapparent as the description proceeds that the improved gearing isapplicable in other places and for various other purposes which willsuggest themselves.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement herein fully described,illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a diametrical section through the improved automatic powertransmission drive gear;

Figure 2 is a cross section through the same taken on the left of thedriving member 12; c

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken between the clutch members 18 and21.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention 1 designates a gear caseor housing which may be of suflicient dimensions to enclose the entiregearing and also retain oil or form an oil chamberadapting the gearwheels, pinions and the like to run in a suitable lubricant.

2 designates a motor generator and 3 the shaft thereof, the latter beingjournaled in a radial ball bearing 4 supported by a web 5 the casing 1.

The axial alinelnent with the shaft 2 is what will he hereinafter termeda transmisand in axial alinemen't with n and 6 is what will 1921. SerialNo. 459,582.

hereinafter be termed a power shaft 7 'In engine starting practice, theshaft 7 ma constitute the en ine shaft or a shaft directly or indirect yconnected with the engine shaft and adapted to be driven by the enginewhen the latter takesup its cycle of operation. The shaft 7 is journaledin a radial ball-bearing 8 supported, as shown, by an end wall 9 ofthecasing. The shafts 6 and 7 are maintained in alinement by providin oneof such shafts with-a tenon 10 and t e other shaft with amortise 11 toreceive said tenon.

Fastened to one end of the shaft 3 by means of a pin or key 12, or theequivalent thereof, is a driving member 13 which is shown as com risingo positely ai'ranged and substantia y panalle arms le. Secured to theadj acent'end of the transmission shaft 6 by means of a suitablefastening device 15 is a collar 16 having one or more radiallyprojecting lugs 17 which lie between the arms 14 of the driving member.13, thelugs 17 being of less circumferential widths than the distancebetween the arms 1450 as to.

provide for a certain limited amount of relative' rotative movementbetween the shafts 3 and 6, the purpose of whichwill presently appear.

18 designates a shiftable clutch which is mounted loosely upon thetransmission shaft 6 and capable of both a partial rotative movementthereon and a slight movement longitudinally of said shaft 6. The shaft6 has projecting therefrom a stud or thrust pin 19 which is received inan inclined slot or way 20 in the clutch member 18, said pin 19therefore operating to slide the clutch member 18 longitudinally uponthe shaft 6 when'said shaft is partially rotated or when the clutchmember 18 is partially rotated. The teeth or jaws of the clutch member18 are adapted to engage the teeth or aws of a complemental clutchmember 21 which is also loose on the shaft 6 and which has one or moreprojections 22 which engage in corresponding notches 23 in the hub 24 ofa pinion 25 loose on the shaft 6. The pinion 25 meshes with a spur gearwheel ihljournaled on a stud 27 secured to an intermediate web :28 ofthe casing The gear wheel 26 meshes with an internal gear 29 supportedby radial ball bearing 30 surrounding the shaft 5. The clutch member 21is yieldingly thrust toward the clutch member 18 by of one or moresprings 31 and such increment of lll) the power shaft, said shafts beingin axial alinement, speed-ratio reducing gearing between saidtransmimion and power shafts, means to automatically disconnect saidgearing when the speed of the power shaft exceeds that of the gearing,and means to automatically connect the power shaft with the startershaft under the last named condition.

4. The combination of a starter shaft, a power shaft adapted to bedriven thereby, a transmission shaft, speed-ratio changing gearing toconnect the starter shaft with said power shaft, anoverrunning clutchbetween said gearing and the power shaft, clutch means operatingautomatically when the speed of the. power shaft exceeds that of thegearing to connect the power shaft with the transmission shaft, adriving connection between the transmission shaft and the starter shaft,and a self releasing clutch between the starter shaft and said gearing,all of said shafts being in axial alinement. In testimony whereof I haveafiixed my signature.

CHARLES P. BREESE.

